Getting in touch with my cultchah
I’m half English by heritage, but even though I look exactly like my 100% English mom, somehow my father’s Russian Jewish background has managed to assert itself and no one ever thinks I look English. (Kind of like the way my mother remained silent for an entire evening the first time she met my Brooklyn Russian Jewish grandparents because she kept waiting for a pause in the conversation to speak.) In fact, people speak to me in Russian on the Q train all the time. Can someone out there tell me how to say, “I don’t speak Russian” in Russian? (Actually, it’s very high on my list of languages that I want to learn next. I love languages, and once intended to collect them. I got stalled at two and a half, and then lost the half–Italian–through lack of use and now only have English and Spanish in my tool kit. But I digress…)
So this is all going somewhere. Going somewhere knit-related, actually. I just finished Elizabeth. When I modeled it for the boy, he said, “Wow! That really makes your English come out.” Seriously. Isn’t he adorable? What do you think? One Buddhist Brooklyn Russian Jewish English Unitarian in an Elizabethan Collar:
And here’s a close-up that proves that a Hold Steady t-shirt goes with just about anything:
I used a skein of Inca Alpaca and a skein of Silk Garden (#34) held together on #6 Addi Naturas. It knit up very quickly. I’m considering making some matching pulse warmers. I think I may make another collar to match the Spirulina mittens. I still have a skein and a quarter left of that stuff.
that would be: “ya nie gavarioo pa-rooski”.
and your elizabeth is beautiful!
Posted by: dahlia
looks absolutely gorgeous on you. that is a fantastic pattern and i love the yarn you used. just amazing colors (and i am not just saying that ’cause i got the pattern a few days ago and plan to use some silk garden too, hehe) and that is a gorgeous pic of you.
i have to ask, is your hair always that gorgeous! in every pic of you, you are a rockin’ an awesome do. i’m still thinking of what life may be like without a ponytail holder one day, lol (but only i’m not kidding)
and those are buttons are perfect too.
Posted by: froggy
Really lovely Ma’am !
Posted by: Emma
OMG, SO Elizabethan. I’m going to change your NAME to Elizabeth, in fact. And did you design that? Because I feel very strongly — very strongly INDEED — that that needs to be in my “scarf” collection. Seriously. Please write me.
Posted by: Norma
Oh, forget me being so stupid. I didn’t click on the link. Now I get it. And I GOTTA get it.
Posted by: Norma
that would be: “ya nie gavarioo pa-rooski”.
and your elizabeth is beautiful!
Posted by: dahlia
looks absolutely gorgeous on you. that is a fantastic pattern and i love the yarn you used. just amazing colors (and i am not just saying that ’cause i got the pattern a few days ago and plan to use some silk garden too, hehe) and that is a gorgeous pic of you.
i have to ask, is your hair always that gorgeous! in every pic of you, you are a rockin’ an awesome do. i’m still thinking of what life may be like without a ponytail holder one day, lol (but only i’m not kidding)
and those are buttons are perfect too.
Posted by: froggy
Really lovely Ma’am !
Posted by: Emma
OMG, SO Elizabethan. I’m going to change your NAME to Elizabeth, in fact. And did you design that? Because I feel very strongly — very strongly INDEED — that that needs to be in my “scarf” collection. Seriously. Please write me.
Posted by: Norma
Oh, forget me being so stupid. I didn’t click on the link. Now I get it. And I GOTTA get it.
Posted by: Norma
heya! my mother is a jewish women from Jersery!! lol.. we are from russian/german jewish background. My father is 100% irish. I look like the irish and its funny i got a slight bump in my noise, growing up people said i had a jewish nose, but actually my mother and sister (black hair, olive skin) have the most wonderful deinty noses you ever saw. My red haired crazy irish grandmther and my pale father have the bumpy noses. I look just like em! hehe!
NO one ever beleives im jewish tho. blue eyes i guess…
Posted by: pixie
Ochen korosho! The collar looks beautiful.
Posted by: Mariko
Wow, what a neat pattern. Very pretty. And very english!
Posted by: alison
I’m very jealous that you already have Elizabeth made! Got the pattern the day it was published.
You look fabulous with it.
Posted by: valentina
-.
Does that help? No? Then I think you should ask Cheburashka for a few lessons.
The collar? Very cute.
Posted by: Iris
I do agree, you DO look Elizabethan English in it, but most apparent is how BEAUTIFUL you are 🙂
Posted by: amy
Elizabeth is so beautiful, I just had to make one for myself! I’m swatching for it now.
Posted by: Celia
I bow to you your Majesty.
I am obsessed with Elizabeth. The premier feminist!
Posted by: elisabeth
Elizabeth makes you look very regal, and the colorway is beautiful. Love the buttons, too.
Posted by: Becca
Very, very cool! Now may we go for a spot of tea?
Posted by: Eilene
Thy lookith lovely, or something like that!
Posted by: jackie
**** claps hands with glee **** Lots and lots of gorgeousness. An Elizabethan rock chic!
Posted by: Alison
heya! my mother is a jewish women from Jersery!! lol.. we are from russian/german jewish background. My father is 100% irish. I look like the irish and its funny i got a slight bump in my noise, growing up people said i had a jewish nose, but actually my mother and sister (black hair, olive skin) have the most wonderful deinty noses you ever saw. My red haired crazy irish grandmther and my pale father have the bumpy noses. I look just like em! hehe!
NO one ever beleives im jewish tho. blue eyes i guess…
Posted by: pixie
Ochen korosho! The collar looks beautiful.
Posted by: Mariko
Wow, what a neat pattern. Very pretty. And very english!
Posted by: alison
I’m very jealous that you already have Elizabeth made! Got the pattern the day it was published.
You look fabulous with it.
Posted by: valentina
-.
Does that help? No? Then I think you should ask Cheburashka for a few lessons.
The collar? Very cute.
Posted by: Iris
I do agree, you DO look Elizabethan English in it, but most apparent is how BEAUTIFUL you are 🙂
Posted by: amy
Elizabeth is so beautiful, I just had to make one for myself! I’m swatching for it now.
Posted by: Celia
I bow to you your Majesty.
I am obsessed with Elizabeth. The premier feminist!
Posted by: elisabeth
Elizabeth makes you look very regal, and the colorway is beautiful. Love the buttons, too.
Posted by: Becca
Very, very cool! Now may we go for a spot of tea?
Posted by: Eilene
Thy lookith lovely, or something like that!
Posted by: jackie
**** claps hands with glee **** Lots and lots of gorgeousness. An Elizabethan rock chic!
Posted by: Alison
I just love seein’ ya, babe…
Elizabeth rocks.
Posted by: Rachael
Gorgeous, luv! Pass the crumpets…
Posted by: alison
Your Elizabeth is beautiful! And it absolutely suits you! Is there a UU church in NYC that you could recommend? my daughter is at NYU and hasn’t found one she was comfortable in yet.
I enjoy your blog and look forward to reading it!
Mj
Posted by: Mj
It looks great! I don’t look like my english mom either….just an Irish gal! We just got that pattern in the shop and I may need to knit one up now!
Posted by: Kristine
Oooh, love that colorway of Silk Garden. My favorite Russian phrase is “Ya nichyevo nye znayoo” which means “I know nothing.” Or just keep repeating “Chto?! Chto?!” (What?! What?!)
Posted by: c
You are so majestic!! Is that the pattern from Knit 1 just tweaked for a more Elizabethan look? It looks fantastic on you.
Posted by: melanie
Next time someone starts speaking to you in Russian, grab them by both shoulders and say “Potsolui minyeh!”. They will stop talking.
(My mom said that to a group of Soviet officers one time. Long story.)
Posted by: David
I love all the russian transliterations.
I don’t speak russian. “ya knee gav-are-you pa-rue-ski.”
I don’t understand. “ya knee pa-ne-mai-you.”
Do you speak english? “Vee gav-are-eat-ye pa-an-glee-ski?”
Do you have a sheep? “ooo vas (s like sandwich) yest ov-tse?”
I love alpacas. “ya lub-l-you al-pa-key.”
Hello my friends. “pre-vyet drooog drooozea.”
Two vodkas please. “pa-jall-e-sta, dva vodku.”
Posted by: Jennifer
Super pretty! And your lovely hair makes it look even more Elizabethy 🙂
Posted by: jen
prefice that with pa-ZHAL-ste, prohs-tee-cheh,
ya nye gava-rhoo pa-rooski
Posted by: tanya
I just love seein’ ya, babe…
Elizabeth rocks.
Posted by: Rachael
Gorgeous, luv! Pass the crumpets…
Posted by: alison
Your Elizabeth is beautiful! And it absolutely suits you! Is there a UU church in NYC that you could recommend? my daughter is at NYU and hasn’t found one she was comfortable in yet.
I enjoy your blog and look forward to reading it!
Mj
Posted by: Mj
It looks great! I don’t look like my english mom either….just an Irish gal! We just got that pattern in the shop and I may need to knit one up now!
Posted by: Kristine
Oooh, love that colorway of Silk Garden. My favorite Russian phrase is “Ya nichyevo nye znayoo” which means “I know nothing.” Or just keep repeating “Chto?! Chto?!” (What?! What?!)
Posted by: c
You are so majestic!! Is that the pattern from Knit 1 just tweaked for a more Elizabethan look? It looks fantastic on you.
Posted by: melanie
Next time someone starts speaking to you in Russian, grab them by both shoulders and say “Potsolui minyeh!”. They will stop talking.
(My mom said that to a group of Soviet officers one time. Long story.)
Posted by: David
I love all the russian transliterations.
I don’t speak russian. “ya knee gav-are-you pa-rue-ski.”
I don’t understand. “ya knee pa-ne-mai-you.”
Do you speak english? “Vee gav-are-eat-ye pa-an-glee-ski?”
Do you have a sheep? “ooo vas (s like sandwich) yest ov-tse?”
I love alpacas. “ya lub-l-you al-pa-key.”
Hello my friends. “pre-vyet drooog drooozea.”
Two vodkas please. “pa-jall-e-sta, dva vodku.”
Posted by: Jennifer
Super pretty! And your lovely hair makes it look even more Elizabethy 🙂
Posted by: jen
prefice that with pa-ZHAL-ste, prohs-tee-cheh,
ya nye gava-rhoo pa-rooski
Posted by: tanya